Battle Of The Worlds (1961)

Starring Claude Rains, Bill Carter, Umberto Orsini, Maya Brent, Jacqueline Derval
Directed by Antonio Margheriti
(actor & director credits courtesy IMDB.com)

A brilliant but irascible mathematician discovers a mobile planetoid is heading towards the Earth, which soon becomes a threat, as well as housing an incredible secret. 

Another of Margheriti's early science fiction films, the production is a tightly focused melodrama, and less fun than his later efforts in the genre, but has a screenplay that wisely unfolds the story slowly with a number of dramatic reveals.  Currently trapped in public domain hell, the film deserves a restoration and the chance to be viewed in a more vibrant print.  Although I enjoyed the story, there aren't too many interesting characters outside of Rains', upgrading his gruff portrayal of Professor Challenger in the 1960 version of The Lost World up a notch for the even more hermit-like Professor Benson.  There's attempts to interest us in the others via romantic subplots, but I didn't feel these worked particularly well, and could easily have been omitted.  I found the special effects serviceable and there's some interesting visuals when Rains and company invade the rogue planet's interior, but the film's climactic reveal is disappointing.  Nevertheless, I still feel the movie was worth my time and would love to see a restored version of it.